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Oxford choir sings for Harry Potter film

16 July 2009

This week the latest cinematic installment of the Harry Potter series is released - and an Oxford college choir will be playing a key role.

The Choir of the Queen’s College recorded work especially for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth film in the series based on the novels by J. K. Rowling.

BAFTA-winning composer Nicholas Hooper, who once again composed the music for the film, approached the Choir of The Queen’s College late in 2007 regarding the possibility of recording music for the film.

After working on the music concerned with Nick Hooper in Oxford, the Choir went to record at Abbey Road Studios in London, spending a morning in the famous Studio One, the world’s largest purpose-built recording studio. The piece, which the choir recorded, is a ‘simple but highly evocative’ song, In noctem.

Organist Dr Owen Rees, who directs the choir, said: ‘It was fascinating to work with the composer Nick Hooper on the recording of this song at Abbey Road.'

The Choir is in good company as Studio One has seen renowned orchestral and choral recordings made there, as well as the music for several well-known films such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

Georgina Watts, a second year choral scholar, said: ‘Recording at Abbey Road is just one of the amazing opportunities that I have been offered as a member of the Queen's College Chapel Choir.'

The song can be heard at various points in the film, during the closing credits, and on the soundtrack CD of the film.

For more information or to interview Dr Owen Rees or a member of the choir, please contact Katie Samuel in The University of Oxford Press Office on 01865 270046 or press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk. A photo of the choir rehearsing at Abbey Road Studios is available.
 

Notes to Editors:

  • The Choir of The Queen’s College has established a reputation as Oxford’s finest mixed-voice chapel choir. The twenty-eight strong ensemble is made up of choral-award holders and volunteers from Queen’s and other colleges, and is directed by the Organist (Dr Owen Rees) with the assistance of the Organ Scholars. Queen’s choir has recently undertaken tours in the U.S.A., Sri Lanka, Spain, Portugal, and France. It also sings concerts and services at cathedrals and other venues in the UK - performing annually in Westminster Abbey in August, for example. In addition to broadcasts (including Radio 3 Choral Evensong), the choir records CDs regularly on the Guild label.For more information on The Choir of Queen’s College, visit www.queens.ox.ac.uk/choir/

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